SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), announced today that its liquid Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) on the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) successfully performed its mission-critical role in the latest intercept flight test of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program.

Today’s test, designated FTG-15, was the inaugural flight for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Alternate Propellant Tank (APT). During the test, a Boeing-developed interceptor, carrying the Raytheon-built EKV, was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, following the launch of an ICBM from Kwajalein Atoll. The Aerojet Rocketdyne Alternate Divert Thruster (ADT) and DACS successfully maneuvered the EKV to the position required for destruction of the incoming target. This was the second flight of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s ADT but the first intercept test.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne has been a key member of the GMD program team since the beginning and we are proud that our DACS, ADT and APT performed as expected,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. “At Aerojet Rocketdyne, we are committed to delivering reliable products and services that play a critical role in defending our country and our allies around the globe. We look forward to continuing our support of the next generation of this program, the Redesigned Kill Vehicle.”

Charlie Meraz, senior director for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Missile Defense programs added, “The inaugural flight of the APT represents several years of dedicated work by Aerojet Rocketdyne’s engineering team. The APT design is a true reflection of the company’s ability to leverage the best engineering tools to improve reliability and meet customer needs.”

Aerojet Rocketdyne is an innovative company delivering solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting our websites at www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.

Contact: Glenn Mahone, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 202-302-9941
Glenn.Mahone@Rocket.com
Lynn Machon, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 916-355-3587
Lynn.Machon@Rocket.com